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GORBA continues to meet the needs of off-road cyclists

Local group has seen membership bloom as more people look for outdoor activities
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For many local off-road cyclists, it’s hard to beat the feeling of the breeze on your skin, biking downhill to catch the sunset as it hits the glistening water on Guelph Lake.

With indoor recreation facilities and most organized sports cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, trails in and around Guelph have seen an explosion of users in the last few months. 

And coordinated mountain bike rides usually held at this time of year are also cancelled, but the Guelph Off-Road Bicycling Association (GORBA) continues to see a rise in users taking advantage of it’s trails and all that the local landscape has to offer. 

“It’s so amazing to see people using the trails, people I know and people I don’t know,” says GORBA president, Don Casey. 

“Our membership is at about 200 which is the highest I’ve seen it. We only had about 35 at the start of the year. We weren’t sure how things would work out this year with trails locked down and people not working. But as soon as the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) reopened the trails, there was a steady stream of members.”

Trail supervisor Joel Lee says that due to the pandemic, not only has there been a huge upswell in users on the GORBA trail system, but also in the number of volunteers helping maintain the trails. 

“There has definitely been more trail maintenance. People have had more time because they weren’t working so they’ve had more time to help out on the trails,” Lee said. 

GORBA constructed and continues to maintain a network of trails at Guelph Lake, all run by volunteers, all-year round. 

“Two summers ago, a number of trees were taken down. It was a planted forest and GRCA planned this for 50-60 years. It was to help improve the forest, improve sunlight and allow for other tree types to grow. It wasn’t until last summer, we got that area back up to speed,” Lee said. 

“There has been new and significant development since.”

Dedicated GORBA volunteers work closely with land managers, landowners and emergency personnel. They continue to assist, educate and inform trail users bringing a more enjoyable and richer recreational experience. 

“We’ve done trail work for years, but this year, it’s awesome. It just makes you feel good to see the amount of work and to see all of the people that have come out, it really is amazing,” Casey said. 

Since 1992, GORBA, a not-for-profit organization, continues to meet the needs of off-road cyclists. 

Whether riding in summer or winter, GORBA helps preserve, maintain and increase the trail network in Guelph all year round. 

GORBA regularly participates in discussions with other trail user groups and organizations such as GRCA and the City of Guelph. 

On July 1, in partnership with the city, GORBA was given management of a new trail, the Arkell Springs Trail System, across from Starkey Hill. 

“This is for members only. It’s been a trail system for a while but in agreement with the city, we now have Joel Lee leading the trail crew,” Casey said. 

And with an active trail crew, continued maintenance and improvements to the new addition will continue. 

GORBA offers coordinated club rides and events for all ages and skill levels but due to the pandemic, these activities have been placed on hold. 

“We are looking at new ways to reinstate our group rides. It’s just figuring out how and in ways that are safe for everyone,” Casey said. 

If ripping down a big berm on the Phoenix trail, or a peddle through the Mad Hatter or Hell’s Kitchen, each trail offers a unique experience.

“The annual membership fee of $35 is such a benefit not only for the riders but it also pays for insurance costs and the overall upkeep of the trails,” Casey says.  

“It helps support the trails and tools used to maintain them. But it also gives us an opportunity to change up the trails too.

“My wife is getting into mountain biking and I think about my 11-year-old daughter. I always have them in mind,” says Lee. 

“I see other families using our trails and I see the legacy in the community that we are leaving with all of the volunteers. Seeing people smile when they use the trails, it’s so satisfying.”

For more information including a trail guide and trail conditions, visit gorba.ca.